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Calling all Google SketchUp Users...

16 Sep 2010

Mark Cundle

United Kingdom

I want to get some feedback on the usefulness of Google SketchUp for Electronic product design. I know a handful of engineers using this package but wanted to ask the wider audience. The limited feedback I've received to date suggests that because SketchUp doesn't inherently support IDF import, the usefulness is limited. The trend in a number of PCB design tools (Altium screenshot below) is to provide integrated 3D viewers...this is an enhancement that would probably be a step too far for DesignSpark PCB, but if we could utilise SketchUp (the free version) to provide a 3D representation of the PCB, would it be a feature people use?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Mark

Replies

PavelK

Czech Republic
13 weeks ago

Definitely Yes, or maby better free Creo Sketch

it is already done for Eagle: http://eagleup.wordpress.com/

Pavel 

Chasse

New Zealand
1 year ago

Ive just finished creating my own custom component in sketchup but can't get the 3D image to go into sketchup at all, cant seem to create my own styles, it feels like I'm being limited only to the pre-defined styles in the 3D Library.

Can anyone tellme how I get my sketchup file into designspark so I can add it to my PCB and/or schematic symbols.

A2D_Converter

United States
1 year ago

Interesting idea.  Sketchup is an awesome program.  How would you be planning to implement?  Making an IDF import plugin for Sketchup? 

Mark Cundle

United Kingdom
1 year ago

A2D_Converter, I sent you a private message on this some time back...let me know if you want to help out.

Thanks, Mark

smartroad78

United Kingdom
1 year ago

Think it is a good idea, but as said before, the libraries need extending first. Get the cake sorted then we can move onto the icing :D

whatanob

Australia
1 year ago

I'd say, from my perspective anyway, that this would be a most desirable feature, as I know for myself it really helps having a visual representation of the design to determine aesthetics, or even identify sizing or placing issues that aren't readily apparent in schematic mode.

Although if it came down to resource issues, I'd far prefer integration and compatibilty work on the libraries, seeing as this is based on EasyPC it would be nice to be able to have more importing flexibilty as the current libraries are lacking in some basic devices. I'm currently stumped on my first try at designspark as there are no opto-couplers, let alone a range of the standard 4/6 pin 2601, 4n25, 4n35, etc, etc, ones.